The Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures Minor entails a rather high level of language proficiency and requires a fairly reasonable understanding of the Hispanic cultures. Aside from having to attain and demonstrate intermediate-high level proficiency in the Spanish language (according to ACTFL guidelines), you also attain a basic understanding of the philosophical perspectives (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, and values), behavioral practices (patterns of social interactions), customs and creative patterns (literature, art, music, etc.) of the Hispanic cultures addressed by your learning experiences.

Required Courses

Students must complete one of the following courses, and secure approval of the School of World Languages and Cultures as a pre-requisite to this minor:

  • SPAN 202: Intermediate Spanish II (4 units)
  • SPAN 212: Spanish For Spanish Speakers I (4 units)
  • SPAN 301: Comp/Oral Practice (4 units)

Complete one of the following courses:

  • SPAN 301: Comp/Oral Practice (4 units)
  • SPAN 302: History of the Spanish Language (4 units)
  • SPAN 303: Adv Spanish Grammar (4 units)
  • SPAN 305: Spanish for The Professions (4 units)
  • SPAN 313: Intro to Spanish Linguistics (4 units)
  • SPAN 315: Introduction to Translation: Spanish/English (4 units)

Complete one of the following courses:

  • SPAN 306: Cultur/Civ Span Ltn Amer (4 units)
  • SPAN 316: Cultures and Civilizations of Spain (4 units)

Complete one of the following courses:

  • SPAN 304: Intro To Hispanic Literat (4 units)
  • SPAN 307: History&Politics Of Mex (4 units)
  • SPAN 308: Hist/Cultr Aztlan:SW US (4 units)
  • SPAN 309: Hist & Polit Of Latn Amer (4 units)
  • SPAN 310: Hispanic Children Literature (4 units)
  • SPAN 321: Masterpieces of Hispanic Lit (4 units)
  • SPAN 322: Masterpieces of Hispanic Literature: Latin America & the Caribbean (4 units)
  • SPAN 325: Hispanic Cinema (2-6 units)
  • SPAN 330: Hispanic Testimonials (4 units)
  • SPAN 365: The Chicano Narrative (4 units)
  • SPAN 370: The Chicano Community (4 units)
  • SPAN 395: Special Topics (1-6 units)
  • SPAN 425: La Literatura Mexicana (4 units)
  • SPAN 426: Narativa Hispanoamericana (4 units)
  • SPAN 427: Latin Amer Women Writers (4 units)
  • SPAN 428: La Literatura Afrolatina (4 units)

In addition, students must complete one additional course. This course may be selected from those listed above (not previously taken), or from the following:

  • HCOM 328: Latina Life Stories (4 units)
  • HCOM 329: Auto/Biografias (4 units)
  • HCOM 344: Chicana/Latina Experiences (4 units)
  • HCOM 345: Chicanx Life & Culture (4 units)
  • HCOM 455: Paradigms Of Chicanx Comm (4 units)
  • SBS 325: Art of the Aztec Empire (4 units)
  • SBS 348: Maya Civilization (4 units)

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcome 1: Language Proficiency

Students demonstrate an intermediate-high proficiency level in the four major skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) according to American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) guidelines.

Learning Outcome 2: Cultural Knowledge

Students provide a comparative description and basic analysis of the peoples, history, and culture of the Spanish-speaking world (including the Hispanic Southwest) ~ engage in the learning of cultural customs (e.g. quinceañera, compadrazgo, Día de los muertos, Carnaval), practices (e.g. religious, ofrendas, fiestas, curanderismo, Cuaresma), products (e.g. literature, art, music), and perspectives (e.g. cosmovisión, worldviews, cultural values, national & cultural identity, etc.), and other skills necessary for cross-cultural communication.